Apparatus and method for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting

ABSTRACT

The invention shows an apparatus for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting, in particular for recycling bituminous composite material bodies comprising a composite material and a bituminous material, in particular roofing materials, in particular in the form of bituminous covering layers of roofing sheets, the apparatus including:
         a vessel having a vessel wall surrounding an interior space of the vessel extending along a vertical axis of the vessel for receiving the bituminous material bodies,   a bottom plate and a compression plate extending transverse to the vertical axis wherein at least the compression plate has a number of through flow orifices adapted to allow a through flow of molten bituminous material, wherein the plates are movable along the vertical axis such that   in a first operating state the compression plate is in a middle position for forming a melting space of larger size between the compression plate and the bottom plate for melting bituminous material in the melting space wherein the bottom plate is in a melting position,   in a second operating state the compression plate is in a lower position for forming a compression space of minor size between the compression plate and the bottom plate for compressing solid residues and/or solid composite material in the compression space, and wherein
 
molten bituminous material is retained in a storing space above the compression plate for storing and/or discharging bituminous material, wherein the bottom plate is in a compression position, wherein
   the compression plate is movable from the middle position to the lower position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for recyclingbituminous material bodies by melting. In particular, the presentinvention relates to an apparatus and method for recycling bituminouscomposite material bodies comprising a composite material and abituminous material. In particular, the apparatus and method are adaptedfor recycling roofing materials, in particular in the form of bituminouscovering layers of roofing sheets.

The bituminous material bodies mentioned above for recycling usuallyhave additional to a bituminous layer also possibly non-bituminouslayers like a mineral covering layer or a bitumen reinforcement layer.Such bituminous material bodies, in particular roofing sheets or thelike, are known from the prior art and are used in particular to coverand seal flat roofs e.g. For instance a bituminous layer can be providedas a conventional bitumen layer or as a polymer modified bitumen layer.The bitumen can in principle be oxidized or can be distilled bitumen.The reinforcement layer or other composite material can be a polyesterfleece, fiberglass mat, fiberglass fabric or felt core.

After reaching the end of their service life, the roof sheets or otherbituminous material bodies are usually processed for energy recovery,i.e. they are burnt as a substitute fuel in coal fire power stations.This kind of recycling causes considerable CO₂ emissions and does notconstitute full recycling of the roof sheets in the real sense aiming toa full material recycling.

Varieties of distillation bitumen and oxidized bitumen are basically inprimary use nowadays to provide a bituminous layer in a bituminousmaterial body. Bitumen as such is obtained by distilling crude oil. Itconsists of a mixture of different hydrocarbons and on account of itsproperties as one of the most used sealants in the constructionindustry. Distillation bitumen or refined bitumen usually refers toresidual oil that remains after fractional distillation at reducedpressure and a temperature of approximately 350° C. These soft tomedium-hard bitumen varieties are primarily used in road construction.Distillation bitumen may also refer to a high vacuum bitumen, which isobtained by further processing or further distillation of distillationbitumen under a vacuum. High vacuum bitumens, i.e. a special form ofdistillation bitumen, are mostly used for asphalt, floors, streets andrubber goods, due to their hardness and can also be used as distillationbitumens for a bituminous layer in a bituminous material body. Oxidizedor blown bitumens are obtained by blowing air into distillation bitumenair at a temperature of approximately 250° C. Depending on this specificprocess used, it is possible to give the bitumen in roof specificproperties in respect of resistance, to heat or cold.

On the other hand it has been found that hot processing and/or recyclingof bituminous material bodies in principle can be achieved by meltingthe bituminous material bodies. However, a problem arises due todifferent melting or softening or transition points of temperature ofthe bituminous material in the bituminous material bodies on the onehand and the composite material in the material bodies or other residueson the other hand; usually the composite material and other residues canalso comprise e.g. solid dirt, slate chippings and the like and thesekind of composite material and other residues may remain solid when thebituminous material is already in a melted state.

In the prior art several attempts and suggestions have been made tohandle bituminous material bodies for recycling by melting in anapparatus and a method; one of which is described for instance in WO98/31519-A. As described therein the bituminous material bodies areheated such that the bituminous material melts. After that the bitumenand the other components forming the roofing materials are separatedfrom each other. After sorting, reducing and melting, the material issieved and sorted. This requires a comparable high amount of energy andis rather cumbrous.

Further in EP 11 44 171 B1 a method and apparatus has been describedwherein the bitumen component of the bituminous material bodies—hereinalso referred to as the bituminous material—is melted in a vessel andseparated from other non-melting components—herein also referred to as acomposite material—of the bituminous material bodies. This isestablished by means of pressing or pushing together those non-meltingcomponents of composite material and all other residues in the vessel.The disclosure of the aforementioned patent EP 11 44 171 B1 herewith isincorporated in its entirety by reference into this application.

The basic principal of separating a bituminous material in the meltedstate from a composite material of a bituminous material body to berecycled as such has been found to be a good approach; however, still itremains to simplified and the apparatus and the method approachadvantageously should be more efficiently to be handled. In particularthe amount of energy and the separation process as such needs to befurther improved.

EP 11 44 171 B1 provides a press means formed by a plate which ismovable in the vessel over the bottom in the direction of a wall of thevessel which plate fits in cross section vertically in the vessel.

Further NL 1031868 describes an alternative approach wherein such plateis movable in the vessel in the vertical direction of a wall of thevessel wherein the plate fits in a cross section horizontal in thevessel. To prevent clogging of through flow orifices in the plate, thethrough flow orifices of the plate need to have a conical shape.

WO 02/28610 A1 describes a method and apparatus for the recycling ofbituminous or tar containing materials, wherein these materials areseparated from each other in a container by means of the application ofa force onto the bituminous or tar containing materials such as apressure force or a centrifugal force, which is brought to bear on thematerials. In an embodiment, in the container, a base plate is formedand above the base plate, at a distance there from, a pressure plate isprovided, which is movable along guiding elements in a direction towardsand away from the base plate by means of a drive means. The base plateand the press plate can be provided with perforations or openings withvarying diameter. The container is lowered down into a vessel, and thevessel is filled with a melting medium, which is liquid hot bitumen orhot fuel oil or another hot melting medium. The container with in it therest materials that are pressed together in the form of a block isfinally raised and lifted out of the vessel and the block can thereafterbe handled as waste, for instance burnt.

Also these designs can be improved insignificantly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other aspects are addressed by the invention, the object ofwhich is to specify a method and apparatus for recycling bituminousbodies by melting, which are further improved in view of the abovementioned problems. At least one of the aspects addressed above shall beaddressed by the invention. At least the object of the invention is toprovide a method and apparatus with an alternative approach.

In the particular preferred aspect the object of the invention is toimprove a separation of the composite material and the bituminousmaterial of a recyclable bituminous material body. In particular theseparation process shall be achievable in a more efficient way. Inparticular it is an object to improve the quality of the recycledbituminous material at the end of recycling the bituminous materialbodies by melting. In particular retaining of composite material andother solid residues during the separation process shall be moreeffective and/or provided with higher reliability. In particular anapparatus for recycling still should be construed in a less complicatedbut nevertheless efficient way; in particular the production of theapparatus shall be more simplified as compared to the prior art.

The object with regard to the apparatus is achieved by the inventionwith the subject-matter of claim 1.

The object with regard to the method is achieved by the invention withthe subject-matter of method claim 24.

Further developments of the invention are outlined in the dependentclaims. Thereby the mentioned advantages of the proposed concept areeven more improved.

The invention starts in a first particular preferred developed variantfrom the consideration, that active filter means as described with amethod and apparatus for recycling bituminous material bodies of theprior art have some disadvantages with regard to efficiency and qualityof the recycling process, but also with regard to handling of the methodand apparatus itself. A significant advantage of the passive filtermeans provided by means of the composite material and/or solid residuesbelow the compression plate is that further effort for maintenance orhandling of the passive filter means is omitted. Even more the passivefilter means turns out to be very efficient and effective for filteringthe melted bituminous material. Indeed, it has been shown that thepassive filter means is adapted to provide a high quality primarybituminous material from the recycling process. The reason is, that thesolid composite material and/or other solid residues of the bituminousmaterial bodies to be recycled as a matter of fact form a specificallyadvantageous filter process for the bituminous material; it turns out,that by gathering and pressing of the bituminous material bodies to berecycled and the composite material provided therein a passive filtermeans is formed once the composite material and/or other solid residuesare dissolved in the melted bituminous material; i.e. basically uponheating the bituminous material bodies above the softening-temperatureand/or melting temperature during the movement of the compression platefrom the middle position to the lower position.

The concept of the first particular preferred developed variantrecognized, that on the one hand the through flow orifices in thecompression plate can be designed in form and size such that on the onehand a composite material and/other solid residues are retainedeffectively below the compression plate to form a passive filter means.In particular this leads to a particular preferred upper limit of thewidth of orifice. This is because as once the width of orifice exceedssuch upper limit the composite material and/or other solid residues willnot be restrained below the compression plate once the majority thereoftends to pass through an oversized through flow orifice with the meltedbituminous material. On the other hand it turns out that a lower limitof the widths of through flow orifices in a compression plate isprovided advantageously. The reason is, as once a through flow orificewidth becomes too small the orifice will be clogged by means ofnon-melting material like composite material and/or other solidresidues. In such case melted bituminous material will not be restrictedto flow through the through flow orifices and thus the separationprocess is slowed down or even has to be stopped when moving thecompression plate form the middle position to the lower position.

In particular it turns out, that the downward velocity for moving thecompression plate from the middle position to the lower position is toprovide it with an upper limit in combination with the margin of throughflow orifices between a lower limit and an upper limit as describedabove to provide for the advantageous passive filter means. Namely incase of a downward velocity below an upper limit and a through floworifice between the margins of a lower limit width and an upper limitwidth of through flow orifices an optimized passive filter means isprovided below the compression plate whereas still filtering andseparation process of the melted bituminous material is efficientlyexecuted upon movement of the compression plate from the middle positionto the lower position.

Still also it turns out, that making the through flow orifices ofsufficiently width, advantages are provided upon melting the bituminousmaterial; namely once the through flow orifices are sufficiently wide acirculation of melting bituminous material in the first operating stateof the apparatus is affordable in an advantageous region; this supportsefficient heating of the bituminous material bodies and lowers energysupply for heating.

In particular it turned out that the concept of the first particularpreferred developed variant will recognize the filter functionality ofthe press cake built up upon movement of the compression plate from themiddle position to the lower position. In particular the firstparticular preferred developed variant astonishingly found thatpolyester fleece, glass fleece or other composite material or compositeresidue behave during the recycling process as described like a filtermaterial when the apparatus and method approaches from the firstoperating state to the second operating state as claimed. Severalexperiments and expertise have shown that once the downward velocity issufficiently low—in particular below an upper limit—filler materials orthe like composite material or solid residue, in particular also largemolecular weight fractions of the bitumen like SBS and ABB (polyester,polymer and caoutchouc and alike modified bitumen), can tend in thepress cake to built up a passive filter means which functions on largemolecular scale.

It has been found that a particular pure primary bituminous material isseparated above the compression plate during the recycling process andin the recycling apparatus claimed; namely a primary bitumen basicallyfree—in the prescribed margins and quality definitions—from fillermaterial or the like composite material or other residues and inparticular advantageously also free of polymer additions or the like (inparticular due to gathering of SBS and ABB in the filter cake).

It turns out that once the margins of the process and apparatus areadapted as described, the press cake dynamically evolves to providemicro channels of sufficiently small size and these are adapted toretain filler material of large molecular scale and polymer additionlike SBS and ABB. Thus, whereas polymer and other large molecular weightadditions are retained in the micro channels still the bituminousmaterial finds other channels in the filter cake and through the throughflow orifices in the compression plate and thus is efficiently separatedabove the compression plate as a particular pure primary bitumen.

In a particular preferred further development the invention provides foran upper limit of the downward velocity of below 15 cm/min, inparticular of below 10 cm/min and the downward velocity is above 0cm/min. In a further preferred development the concept of the inventionleads to the through flow orifices in form of slits. In particular theslits have a lower slit width and an upper slit length. Astonishingly itturns out that the concept of the invention works well already once thethrough flow orifices have a lower width to retain composite or otherfiller material and/or solid residues according to the concept.

In a particular preferred still further development the through floworifices lower cross section or dimension, in particular lower widththereof like lower slit width or the like, is below 10 mm, in particularbelow 4 mm, in particular below 2 mm.

Independently, in particular alternatively are additionally, a anotherfurther development provided for a ratio of a sum of open cross sectionsof through flow orifices to the total closed area of the compressionplate; the ratio turns out to be advantageously below 10%, in particularbelow 5%. In a particular preferred embodiment the ratio is below 2%, inparticular below 1%, in particular above 0.001% or above 0.01%, inparticular above 0.1%.

In a still further another particular preferred development the orificesin the compression plate have plan-parallel boundary surfaces. This hasadvantages in the through flow dynamics of the molten bituminousmaterial and also in the processing of the compression plate.

In essence the concept of the first particular preferred developedvariant provides for an apparatus and a method adapted for recyclingbituminous material bodies by melting, wherein a lowering velocity ofthe compression plate is sufficiently small, in particular incombination with the size of the through flow orifices in thecompression plate, such that a inventive passive filter means isprovided below the compression plate for filtering the recyclablebituminous material in a melted state to provide a particular highquality primary bitumen, even without polyester or other polymermaterial residues.

It turns out, that the concept of the first particular preferreddeveloped variant is particular effective in a development wherein thevessel has an interior volume of between 5 m³ to 12 m³, in particularwherein a cross section of compression plate is between 2 m and 4 m. Aparticular preferred height of vessel can be between 1 m and 5 m.

Advantageously it turns out that the apparatus and method claimed isadapted to the use for separation of tar and bitumen. Due to thevertical axis arrangement of the vessel due to the different density oftar and bitumen (1.2 g/cm³ and 1.0 g/cm³ respectively), a hot mixture oftar and bitumen will separate once the mixture is at rest. Heavy tarfractions gather at the bottom of the vessel whereas lighter bitumenfractions gather above the tar fractions. Thus the fractions (thebitumen) can be drawn off from the vessel, in particular after havinglowered the compression plate. In particular, additionally oralternatively, the fractions (the tar fractions from below regions ofthe vessel) can be drawn off from the vessel before the lowering of thecompression plate.

Further preferred developments are of particular advantage for improvingapparatus construction and handling of the apparatus and energyefficiency of the heating process can also be derived from the furtherdependent claims and the drawing.

Preferably a hydraulic and/or pneumatic drive is adapted to move atleast the compression plate along the vertical axis from the middleposition to the lower position with the downward velocity.

Preferably a drive is adapted to move at least the compression platealong the vertical axis by exerting pressure at least to a first numberof drive rods adapted to move the compression plate between saidpositions.

Preferably a second number of guidance rods are adapted to establish aguidance link at least of the bottom plate to the compression platewherein

-   -   a lower distance between the bottom plate and the compression        plate is variable dependent on the position of the compression        plate, and    -   an upper distance between the bottom plate and the compression        plate is limited by a stop collar.

Preferably a drive rod extends to a first line of openings in saidplates and a guidance rod extends to a second line of openings in saidplates.

Preferably a first line of openings in said plates is located on anouter circumference line on a respective plate and a second line ofopenings in said plates is located on an inner circumference line on arespective plate.

Preferably the number of drive rods and the number of guidance rods andrespective openings are the same, in particular the number amounts tothree, in particular each rod is arranged along a first and second innercircumferential cylindrical shape.

Preferably further comprising a cover plate wherein the compressionplate is arranged between the bottom plate and the cover plate.

Preferably when the bottom plate is in a melting position, the bottomplate in a lowermost region of the vessel wall along the vertical axisand the vessel is closed by the cover plate and the compression plate isin an upper region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis.

Preferably when the bottom plate is in a compression position, thebottom plate in a lowermost region of the vessel wall along the verticalaxis and the vessel is closed by the cover plate and the compressionplate is in a lower region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis.

Preferably when the bottom plate is in a discharge position, the vesselis open and the compression plate and the cover plate are in a regionabove the vessel wall along the vertical axis, in particular the bottomplate in the region above the vessel wall along the vertical axis.

Preferably the interior space is adapted for receiving the bituminousmaterials, wherein the vessel wall has an inner wall defining theinterior space and adapted for contacting the bituminous materials, andan outer wall defining an annular space between the inner wall and theouter wall, which annular space is adapted to receive a heating liquidfor heating the interior space, in particular the bituminous materials.

Preferably the inner wall and the out wall are connected at a pluralityof hubs, in particular each hub is formed as pillow plated hub, inparticular of a weld hub.

Preferably the interior space is adapted to be open to the surrounding,in particular an overflow channel is connectable in a flow connection tothe interior space.

Preferably the interior space is adapted to be pressurized with apressure below atmospheric pressure, in particular with a vacuumpressure.

Preferably further comprising a microwave heating arrangement is adaptedto heat the interior space, in particular the bituminous materials.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises: a first and second flow pipeconnected to the vessel in a flow connection to the interior space ofthe vessel wherein a propeller is adapted to circulate molten bituminousmaterials in the first and second flow pipe and the interior space ofthe vessel.

Preferably in a third operating state the compression plate is in anupper position for forming a discharge space between the compressionplate and the bottom plate for discharging bituminous materials from thedischarge space, wherein the bottom plate is in a discharge position.

Preferably the discharge position of the bottom plate is adapted suchthat the bottom plate surface aligns with a slider element of a slideand/or a discharge receipt tray, wherein the slide is adapted to movethe slider element along the surface of the bottom plate to move thecompressed solid residues and/or composite material to the dischargereceipt tray.

Preferably the discharge receipt tray is heatable and/or pivotable; inparticular pivotable from a horizontal surface position to a verticalsurface position to release the compressed solid residues and/orcomposite material.

Preferably a head frame is adapted for supporting the vessel and/or aslide and/or a tray wherein a vessel part of the a head frame comprisesa number of columns extending a along an outer circumferentialcylindrical shape, in particular wherein a column is basically alignedin a radial extending vertical tier with a guidance rod and a drive rod.

In a second particular preferred developed variant of the invention,energy transmission to the bituminous material, in particular also tarcontaining material, can be improved and/or an efficiency of the heatingprocess can be improved.

Preferably, a stirring unit is provided, wherein the stirring unit has ashaft and an elongated stirring member rotatable arranged between thebottom plate and a vessel bottom. Preferably the shaft is adapted torotate the elongated stirring member in a stirring space between thebottom plate and the vessel bottom. These developments recognized that astirring unit is of particular advantage for improving efficiency of aheating process of the bituminous material to be recycled, stirring thebituminous material to be recycled allows transferring heat throughoutthe vessel in a very efficient way. Thereby, a preferred agitation orturbulence in the fluid bitumen in the vessel can be achieved. It turnsout that the melting process is more efficient and heat transfer to thebituminous material to be recycled is more efficient.

Additionally or alternatively the shaft is hollow with and upper outletadapted to feed through a bituminous fluid, in particular a bituminousmelting fluid. With synergetic effect, the development furtherrecognized that the shaft can be formed as a hollow shaft and thus isadapted to feed through a bituminous fluid into the vessel. Preferably,thereby bituminous material and/or bituminous melting fluid can beinjected into the vessel in a heated state. For instance, bituminousfluid from the circulation pipe can be provided as a stream to the feedthrough arrangement of the hollow shaft and/or bituminous melting fluidfrom an external tank can be provided additionally to the feed througharrangement of the hollow shaft. Thereby, an even more improvedpreferred agitation or turbulence in the fluid bitumen in the vessel canbe achieved. It turns out that the melting process is even moreefficient and heat transfer to the bituminous material to be recycled ismore efficient.

Preferably, the hollow shaft is connected to the vessel by means of anaccess opening in the vessel bottom connecting the shaft to the vessel.Preferably, the connection is along a central axis of the vessel to thevessel bottom.

Further, in a first modification, the shaft has an opening out into thespace between the bottom plate and the compression plate. In thereby ajet stream of bituminous fluid into a bituminous material to be recycledin the melting space and/or into a composite material in the compressionspace between the bottom plate and the compression plate can be formed.

Said first modification recognized that this is particularlyadvantageous for forming a jet stream of bituminous fluid into abituminous material to be recycled in the melting space and/or into acomposite material in the compression space, in particular for forming ajet stream along a central axis into the space between the bottom plateand the compression plate. The pressed composite material thereby can bebroken up or the packing thereof can be slackened; thus, an even moreimproved preferred agitation or turbulence in the fluid bitumen in thevessel can be achieved and/or residual bituminous material is forcedaway from the composite material in heated form.

In a further preferred modification, additionally or alternatively, theshaft has an opening out into the stirring space between the bottomplate and the vessel bottom. The further modification recognized thatthis arrangement is of particular advantage for forming a cushion streamof bituminous fluid into a bituminous material to be recycled in themelting space and/or into a composite material in the compression spacebetween the bottom plate and the compression plate. Thereby, lifting ofresidues in the melted bituminous material in the melting space and/orlifting of the composite material in the compression space can beachieved. Thus again, a circulation of bituminous material through andaround the composite material is upheld and enforced.

In the first and second modification, bituminous fluid from a fluidguiding connected to the aforementioned flow pipes for circulation offluid bituminous material can be used for feed through at the hollowshaft and/or a fluid guiding connected to an external tank can be usedto add heated bituminous melting fluid to the bituminous material to berecycled.

Preferably, the bottom plate on a bottom side thereof has a cupcladding, in particular formed by a circumferential arrangement, inparticular of a number of fins; like for instance in the form a fence,to limit the bottom plate at its circumference. Thereby, leakage ofbituminous fluid from the stirring space between the vessel bottom andthe bottom plate is limited. In particular, for the second modification,it has been recognized to be advantageous that the hydraulic pressure ofbituminous fluid is upheld or increased to a number of furtherthrough-flow orifices in the bottom plate. Thereby, sufficient hydraulicpressure is charged to the number of further through-flow orifices inthe bottom plate to allow a through-flow of fluid bituminous material;the sufficient hydraulic pressure is sufficient to increase heattransfer, in particular to support a circulating flow in the vessel, inparticular to increase a turbulent flow. In particular the sufficienthydraulic pressure is sufficient to lift solid residue of bituminousmaterial to be recycled in the melting space and/or to lift the pressedcomposite material in the compression space. For instance, the cupcladding can be formed by a circumferential arrangement of a number offins or other fence means.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, the invention willnow be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.The detailed description will illustrate and describe what is consideredas a preferred embodiment of the invention. It should of course beunderstood that various modifications and changes in form or detailcould readily be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. It is therefore intended that the invention may not belimited to the exact form and detail shown and described herein, nor toanything less than the whole of the invention disclosed herein and asclaimed hereinafter. Further the features described in the description,the drawing and the claims disclosing the invention may be essential forthe invention considered alone or in combination. In particular, anyreference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting thescope of the invention. The wording “comprising” does not exclude otherelements or steps. The wording “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing shows in:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus forrecycling bituminous material bodies by melting;

FIG. 2 a perspective view of a vessel of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a sketch of different preferred operating states of a platearrangement of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 a perspective view of a compression plate of the platearrangement of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of a method for recyclingbituminous material bodies by melting;

FIG. 6 a side cross-sectional view of a bottom plate of the platearrangement with a vessel bottom and a stirring unit with a hollowshaft, wherein according to a first preferred variation an outlet of thehollow shaft opens out into a space between the bottom plate and acompression plate;

FIG. 7 a side cross-sectional view of a bottom plate of the platearrangement with a vessel bottom and a stirring unit with a hollowshaft, wherein according to a second preferred variation an outlet ofthe hollow shaft opens out into a bottom space between the bottom plateand a vessel bottom and the bottom plate has a number of through floworifices to a space between the bottom plate and a compression plate andfurther the bottom plate has a cup cladding formed on a bottom sideformed by an arrangement of a number of fins;

FIG. 8 in (A) a bottom view of the bottom plate, in (B) a sectional planview of the cup cladding formed by an arrangement of a number of finsunder the bottom plate, in (C) a sectional side view of a fin in abended state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus 100 for recyclingbituminous material bodies (not shown) by melting. Such bituminousmaterial bodies in particular can be in the form of bituminous compositematerial bodies comprising a composite material and a bituminousmaterial. For instance roofing materials, in particular in the form ofbituminous covering layers of roofing sheets as described in theintroduction are suitable for recycling by melting with considerableadvantages as compared to prior art practice of burning the bituminousmaterial bodies. The recycling apparatus 100 is construed with a headframe 101 having a vessel part frame 110, a drive part frame 120, aslide part frame 130 and a tray part frame 140 to support respectiveparts of the recycling apparatus 100. Therein said parts basicallycomprise but are not limited to a vessel 10, a slider element 30 and atray 40 and a drive with a plate arrangement 20 wherein the drive 21 andthe plate arrangement 22 and a drive-plate linkage 23 are referencedseparately.

The vessel 10 as such is described in detail with regard to FIG. 2. Asalready visible in FIG. 1 the vessel 10 has a vessel wall surrounding aninterior space (not shown) wherein the vessel itself extends along avertical axis Z adapted to receive the bituminous bodies from the topalong the direction of the vertical axis Z.

At least some of the plates of the plate arrangement 22 described belowfrom a vessel lid 12. A first pipe nozzle 13 in the vessel lid 12 isadapted but not limited to draw off an upper and/or light fraction ofmelt from the interior space of the vessel 10. On the side of the vessela side pipe nozzle 14 in the vessel wall 11 is adapted but not limitedto draw off a lower, heavier weight fraction of melt from the interiorspace of the vessel 10. The upper pipe nozzle 13 thus for instance canbe used to draw off a bitumen fraction of melt and the side pipe nozzle14 can be used to draw off a tar fraction of the melt in the vessel.

The linkage 23 comprises a number of three drive rods 24 and a number ofthree guidance rods 25 where in each of the rods 24, 25 extend along thevertical axis Z partly to and partly through a first line of openings 26and a second line of openings 25 in the vessel lid 12 as explainedfurther in detail in the following. The first line of openings 26 islocated on an inner circumference line on the vessel lid 12 and thesecond line of opening 27 is located on an outer circumference line inthe vessel lid 12. The inner circumference line 28 and the outercircumference line 29 respectively is shown in FIG. 2 on the vessel lid.Further the vessel part 110 of the head frame 101 comprises a number ofcolumns 111 extending along a very outer circumference cylindricalshape. Each of the columns 111 is basically aligned in a vertical tieralong a radial extension R together with the guidance rod 25 and thedrive rod 24. Assigned to the drive rods 24 is a drive cylinder 124 andto each of the guidance rods is assigned a further drive cylinder 125.As such the drive cylinders 124, 125 form a hydraulic drive 21 which issituated and supported by the drive part frame 120 as shown in FIG. 1.Upon movement of the drive 21 the linkage makes the vessel lid 12 tomove up or down and as described further in detail in particular withreference to the specific plates of the vessel lid 12 and/or the bottomplate in the vessel 10.

Further as shown in FIG. 1 the slider element 30 is adapted to bemovable on or by rail bars 131 supported by the frame slide part 130.Thus a slide element 30 can be moved from the one side I of therecycling apparatus 100 to and further approaching on the opening crosssection of the vessel 10, i.e. right above the vessel wall 11 in thehorizontal plane P which also aligns with the plane of a tray 40 at thetray part frame 140. Thus the slide element 30 by support of the frameslide part 130 is adapted to move elevated compressed material in theplane P from a vessel's opening to the tray 40. The tray 40 itself isheated and thus keeps the compressed material (not shown) in a softstate. Once the compressed material is ready for discharging into acontainer or the like, the tray 40 is fold down by pivoting the tray 40along a hinge 41 such that the discharge mass of compressed materialsfalls of the tray 40 into a container beneath the tray (not shown). Alsoa tar fraction or other residual fraction in the lower region of thevessel can be drawn off from the pipe nozzle 14 by discharging into acontainer or a reservoir or discharge piping or the like.

In an alternative slightly varied embodiment the upper pipe nozzle 13can be used to exert a vacuum pressure to the vessel which as such isuseful to decrease a melting point of materials; thus this reduces theamount of heat input from melting bituminous material bodies in theinterior space of the vessel 10. Thus recycling of the bituminousmaterial bodies can be proceeded at considerably lower temperatures thanat atmospheric pressure. Also in a varied embodiment the upper pipenozzle 13 can be used as an overflow discharge opening which allows todischarge overflowed mass of bituminous material or other meltedmaterial which may occur when erroneously the vessel 10 is overloaded orotherwise an exert of pressure on melted material arises in the vessel10. Thus unless for saving energy the vessel system 10 shown in FIG. 1as part of the recycling apparatus 100 is construed as an open systemwhich as such lowers the danger of over pressure or detonation, even athigh temperatures and development of flammable gases upon heating of thebituminous material. Of course, also in a varied embodiment the upperpipe nozzle 13 can be used to discharge toxic gases or other gasesand/or steam or the like from the interior space of the vessel 10 whenheating the bituminous material bodies.

The tray frame 140 is located on the other side II of the recyclingapparatus 100. The drive frame 120 is located on the upper part III ofthe recycling apparatus 100. The vessel frame part 110 is located at thelower side IV of the recycling apparatus 100.

In the following for identical or similar features of identical orsimilar function the same reference marks are used for simplicity. Thusas regards the description of the vessel in FIG. 2 it is partly alreadyhinted at the description with regard to FIG. 1.

Further in FIG. 2 an overflow piping 53 is shown which is adaptedadditionally or alternative to the upper pipe nozzle 13 to dischargegaseous components or overflow melted components from the interior spaceof the vessel 10. Connected to the wall 11 and in through flowconnection 54.1, 54.2 to the interior of the vessel is a first andsecond flow pipe 51, 52 as a part of a circulation piping 50 wherein thecirculation piping 50 is adapted to circulate molten bituminousmaterials in the first and second flow pipe 51, 52 and the interiorspace of the vessel 10, once the bituminous material bodies are meltedin the interior space of vessel 10. Thereby the amount of heat energytransferred to the interior space of the vessel 10 and thus to thebituminous material bodies is effectively circulated and distributedwhich considerably lowers the amount of time for melting the bituminousmaterial bodies.

Heat is transferred to the interior space of the vessel 10 alone or inaddition, in particular auxiliary, by a microwave unit which is notshown in detail in FIG. 2.

The biggest amount of heat energy, however in general, is transferred tothe interior space of the vessel 10 as provided by construing thevessel's wall 11 as a double wall namely with an inner wall 11.2 and anouter wall 11.1. The construction is such that the annular space definedbetween the inner and outer wall 11.2, 11.1 is adapted to receive aheated liquid, in particular heat oil or thermal oil or the like liquidmedium such that the heat energy of the liquid heat medium istransferred by contact of heat through the inner wall 11.2 to thebituminous material bodies in the interior space of the vessel. As canbe seen from the graphics of the outer wall 11.1 at the wall 11 of thevessel 10 the connection of the inner and outer wall 11.2, 11.1 isprovided by means of pillow plated laser welding; this results in thepillow form of a hub kind of surface of the outer wall 11.1. Thereby aradial distance of perhaps 3 cm or the like are in particular useful tolower spacing of the inner and outer wall, in particular down to 5 or 3mm or in a range between 2 mm and 5 cm for instance can be provided. Theinner and outer wall 11.2, 11.1 are connected at the margins of a pillowby weld connection whereas beyond the weld connection points a throughflow of heating liquid is possible throughout the annular space betweenthe inner and outer wall 11.2, 11.1. Thus a homogenous heating of theinterior space around the circumference and along the cylindrical shapein vertical axis Z extension is provided. This allows for a continuousand smooth and even heating of the bituminous material bodies in theinterior space of the vessel 10.

The bituminous melted material in the vessel and the circulation pipingarrangement 50 is directed into the interior space at a lower pipeconnection 54.1 of the circulation piping arrangement 50 and out of theinterior space at an upper pipe connection 54.2 of the circulationpiping arrangement 50. Further circulation piping nozzles 54.3 can beused to draw off part of the melted material and/or to degas, ventilateor depressurize the interior space of the vessel 10.

FIG. 2 shows the vessel 10 with the lid 12 in an arrangement of platesas further described and symbolized in FIG. 4.

The plate arrangement 60 assigned to the vessel 10 and the linkage 23 ofthe drive 21 is shown in FIG. 3 in a first operating state O1, a secondoperating state O2 and a third operating state O3. The plate arrangementcomprises a bottom plate 61, a compression plate 62, and a cover plate63. The schematic view of FIG. 3 shows the operating states O1, O2, O3of the recycling apparatus 100 with the vessel 10 and the drive partframe 120 providing the number of columns 111 and a drive 20 platformplate 64. As indicated in FIG. 1 the lid 11 is construed as aplan-parallel connection of the cover plate 63 and the compression plate62 wherein the compression plate 62 is inserted into a cavity of thecover plate 63. Thus basically the plates 61, 62, 63, 64 are part of acoaxial aligned plate arrangement 60 wherein the bottom, compression andcover plates 61, 62, 63 are movable along the vertical axis Z and theplatform plate 64 as part of the frame 120 is adapted to stabilize thelinkage 23 and drive 21. All of the plates comprise the above mentionedopenings 26, 27 to throughput the linkage and/or drive 23, 21, inparticular the rods 24, 25 as guidance and drive rods for moving theplates 61, 62, 63.

Further as it is clear from FIG. 3 the cover plate 63 and thecompression plate 62 are movable by the drive 21 independently from eachother. However, the bottom plate 61 is linked to the compressing plate62 such that the bottom plate 61 is pulled in a fixed connectiondistance D of large size in the third operation state O3 at least; herealso in the first operation state O1. Therefore, in an upper state thedistance D between the bottom plate 61 and the compression plate 62 islimited by a stop collar at the linkage beneath the bottom plate. Thus,once the compression plate has moved up to a certain distance D (upperdistance) the bottom plate 61 has to follow the movement of thecompression plates 62 due to a fixed linking rod of the linkage 23between compression plate 62 and bottom plate 61. In FIG. 3 operationstate O3 the linkage 23 with drive and guidance rod 24, 25 is symbolizedas the linkage extension 65 with collar 66.

In the first operating state O1 the compression plate 62 is in themiddle position for forming a melting space of larger size D between thecompression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 for melting bituminousmaterial in the melting space wherein the bottom plate 61 is in themelting position.

In the second operation state O2 the compression plate 62 is in a lowerposition for forming a compression space of minor size d between thecompression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 for compressing solidresiduals and/or composite material and other filler material in thecompressing space.

The melted bituminous material is retained in a storing space S abovethe compression plate 62 for storing and/or discharging meltingbituminous material, wherein the bottom plate 61 is in a compressionposition for providing the compression space C between the bottom plate61 and the compression plate 62. The cover plate 63 in both operatingstates O1, O2 closes the vessel 10 and thus toxic or other gases or thelike outgas is vented regularly to one or more of the options of a pipenozzle 13 or circulating pipe arrangement 50 as described above.

In a third operating state O3 the compression plate is in an upperposition for forming a discharge space between the compression plate 62and the bottom plate 61 for discharging bituminous materials from thedischarge space A as shown in FIG. 3 for operating state O3. The bottomplate then is in the so called discharge position in plane P as shown inFIG. 1.

The compression plate in a particular preferred construction is shown inFIG. 4. The compression plate 62 has a border frame 62.2 surrounding theplate 62.1 itself along the full diameter. The plate 62.1 itself isstabilized by a three axis bar arrangement 62.3 and connection elements62.4 define a preferred distance to the cover plate 63. Further in thesurrounding border 62.2 a through hole 62.5 is implemented to formopenings for the guidance rods 25 as indicated by reference sign 27 inFIG. 1. Further on the three axis bar arrangement 62.3 of the plate 62 ajoint tap 62.6 is provided with a hole such that the hole on the tap62.6 can be reached through the piping nozzle 13 of the lid 12 as shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for recycling bituminous materialbodies by melting in principle. The method can be executed by means ofthe recycling apparatus 100 as described in detail in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.

In the method 200 in step S201 the recycling apparatus 100 provides theplate arrangement 60 in a third operating state O3 wherein a large spaceof large size D is provided to introduce bituminous material bodies likebituminous composite material bodies comprising a composite material anda bituminous material in solid form for recycling on the bottom plate61. In the method step S202, the plate arrangement 60 is moved tooperating state O1; thus the vessel 10 is closed by the lid 12 and thebituminous material bodies can be heated and once in the melted statecan be circulated in the vessel and the circulation tube arrangement 50.

In step S203 the plate arrangement 60 is moved to the operating state O2wherein the composite material is separated from the bituminous materialby means of the compression plate 62 moving from the middle position ofoperating state O1 to the lower position of operating state O2. Therebythe solid non-melted material is compressed in the compression space Cbetween the bottom plate 61 and the compression plate 62. Further uponaccumulation of filler material below the compression plate 62 meltedbituminous material before being forced through the orifices of thecompression plate 62 is filtered in a partly built up press cake belowthe compression plate 62. Thereby a very effective passive filter meansis provided such that in the storing space S above the compression plate62 high quality and pure primary bitumen is retained apart from thecompression cake in the compression space C. In a further step S204 themelted and purified primary bitumen in storage space S is drawn off fromthe storage space between compression plate 62 and cover plate 63. Thiscan be achieved by means of the upper pipe nozzle 13 or additionally oralternatively by means of the side pipe nozzle 14 as described with FIG.2.

The perforated plate 62.1 as shown in FIG. 4 of the compression plate 62in this embodiment has through flow orifices 62.7 in the form of slitshaving a slower slit width and an upper slit length. The lower slitwidth 62.7 W is below 2 mm. The ratio of some of open cross sections oforifices in form of the slits 62.7 to the total closed area of the plate62.1 of the compression plate 62 is in this embodiment well below 2% butabove 0.001%. The side walls of the slits 62.7 in this embodiment areplan-parallel. It has been shown that perforations of plan-parallel sidewalls are easier to manufacture and well function within the filterfunction of the passive filter means as described above.

However, in a varied embodiment, the side walls can also be provided ina conus-like form as has been described in NL 1031868, which herewith isincorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

According to the concept of the invention it has been shown that thepassive filter means is provided in a particular preferred form when thedownward velocity of the compression plate from moving between themiddle position of operating state O1 to the lower position of theoperating state O2 is well below 15 cm/min., in particular well below 10cm/min. In this embodiment a downward velocity is variable in the rangebetween 1 cm/min and 10 cm/min wherein the slit width 62.7 w is below 2mm and the ratio of open to closed cross sections is well below 2%.

Preferably a vacuum vent, valve or the like compensation opening isapplied to the vessel. Thus a vacuum due to movement of the plates inthe vessel can be balanced in the vessel by opening the compensationopening.

In a first embodiment the recycling vessel 10 has an interior volume ofbetween 6 to 7 m³ and a height of the vessel 10 in the direction of thevertical axis Z is 2 m. The diameter of the vessel 10 and the plate 62.1of the compression plate 62 is in between 2 m to 2.50 m.

In a varied embodiment the interior volume of the vessel 10 can be inbetween 10 to 12 m³ at a height of the vessel 10 of in between 3.5 m to4.5 m, in particular at around 4.00 m. A diameter of the vessel 10 ispreferably in between 2.5 m and 3.5 m, in particular at around 3.00 m.

Thus generally, the vessel is provided with an interior volume of inbetween 5 m³ to 15 m³ at a height of in between 1 m to 6 m at a diameterof in between 2 m to 4 m. In particular for the above assigned generaldimensions of the vessel 10 the downward velocity and through floworifices with a particular preferred combination for achieving afunctioning passive filter means.

In step S205 the plate arrangement 60 is provided in the operating stateO3 and the lid 12 thus opens, preferably automated, the vessel 10wherein the compressed cake of compressed solid material is served inthe plane P—and thus on height of the tray 40 and the slide element 30as has been described with FIG. 1—. In step S206 the compressed cake canbe moved to the tray 40 by means of the slide element 30 and the traythereafter is activated thus to discharge the pressed cake into acontainer or the like volume.

Tar and/or bituminous fluid can be discharged in fluid form, preferablyin fractions. The pressed cake can be used for further purposes e.g. ina clutched form or can be discharged as waste or shred or burnt. Themethod 200 described can be cycled continuously. Thus after finishingstep S206 the vessel again can be charged with bituminous materialbodies for melting as has been described with step S201. A charging canbe done by means of a charging conveyor belt or the like charging means.Once the process of heating is started, a pressing means, like a cage ormesh, can be used to press solid bituminous material bodies into themelt below the fluid level. After a certain time, the lid can be closed.

The slide element 30 is formed as a kind of pusher and moves in theplane P parallel to the frame slide part 130 and the tray part frame140; the pusher can be connected to a guide bar. Also a number of morethan one pusher can be used to form the slide element 130, wherein thenumber of more than one pusher preferably move synchronously, i.e. movewith the same velocity in the plane P. The rail bars 131 are adapted toprovide a suitable advance force to the pusher. The rail bars 131 can beformed from profiled bars or piston bars; also hollow piston bars can beused to form a telescope drive to the rail bars 131.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a further developed embodiment of therecycling apparatus 100 in a lower area of the vessel part frame 110.The view of FIG. 6 depicts the vessel bottom 15 of the vessel 10 and thebottom plate 61, as has been described hereinbefore. Further, connectedto the vessel 10 is a feed line and stirring arrangement 200 for feedingin and stirring fluid bituminous material BM into the vessel 10. FIG. 6shows a stirring unit 210 with a shaft 211 and an elongated stirringmember 212, which is rotatable arranged between the bottom plate 61 andthe vessel bottom 15. The shaft 211 is adapted to rotate the elongatedstirring member 212 in the stirring space SS between the bottom plate 61and the vessel bottom 15. The elongated stirring member 212 in thisembodiment is formed with scraper means, which allows to scrap solidcomposite material from the vessel bottom 15 by means of a scraper means213. A rotating scraper keeping the vessel bottom clean is preferred forpreventing piling up of bitumen on the bottom of the tank, causingimpossible heat transfer from the pillow plate on the bottom of thevessel through the vessel bottom into the liquid bitumen. Not shown butalso preferred, is a disc underneath the compression plate with adiameter smaller than the diameter of the plates is preferred. In thisway the cake of solid composite material never reaches the wall of thevessel and can not block the flow of the regained bitumen out of thecake into the space underneath the bottom plate.

Further, an inlet unit 220 is formed in that the shaft 211 is formed asa hollow shaft connected to a hollow fluid guide with an upper outlet222 into a space between the bottom plate 61 and the compression plate62, in particular to a bituminous material to be recycled in the meltingspace and/or into a composite material in the compression space CS; inFIG. 6, the compression plate 62 is depicted only symbolically and wouldbe arranged far above the opening out 22 of the fluid guide 221 in casea melting space MS is formed.

The fluid guide 221 comprising and connected to the hollow shaft 211 isin turn connected to a ring pipe 234 for pumping fluid bituminousmaterial, which in turn is achieved by a pump of suitable size. Asoutlined before, a first and second flow pipe 51, 52 or other or moreflow pipes like the first and second flow pipe, can be connected to thevessel in a flow connection to the interior space of the vessel by meansof the fluid guide 221 in the hollow shaft 211.

The system of bitumen pump, bitumen ring pipe 234, hollow shaft 211,outlet 222 and the like fluid guide members is adapted to achieve athroughput volume of fluid bituminous material of more than 100 m³/h.The hollow shaft 211 is guided through the vessel bottom and the bottomplate. The bottom plate 61 therefore has a central access connection forthe hollow shaft 211. The access connection may have a diameter of morethan 50 mm, in particular more than 100 mm. By this arrangement of afeeding and stirring arrangement 200, a jet stream of bituminousmaterial BM into the space between the bottom plate and the compressionplate allows to provide turbulent fluid flow and thus efficient transferof heat to the center of the bituminous material to be recycled.

Thus, in a first operating state, when the compression plate is in amiddle position for forming a melting space MS of larger size betweenthe compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61, the melting ofbituminous material in the melting space MS is with high efficiency andthe time for melting the bituminous material to be recycled isdecreased. Further solid residues are lifted.

In a second operating state, when the compression plate is in a lowerposition for forming a compression space CS of minor size between thecompression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 for compressing solidresidues and other solid composite material in the compression space CS,still nevertheless a jet stream of bituminous material BM into thecomposite material can be used to break up the composite material. Stillthis can allow to detract fluid bituminous material from the compositematerial and further upheld the circulation of a heat transferringstream of fluid bituminous material through and around the compositematerial.

As further shown in FIG. 6, the hollow shaft 211 is connected to thevessel bottom by means of a coupling flange connection 230 providing aflange 231, a hollow box connector 232 with a bushing, and a connectionplate 233 to the vessel bottom 15. The flow pipe connection of ring pipe234 between the first and second flow pipes 51, 52 or further flow pipesis connected to the hollow shaft in fluid-tight manner, for instanceusing a first gasket 235. The hollow shaft is rotatable connected intothe vessel interior of the vessel 10 in fluid-tight manner, for instanceby means of a further dynamic gasket 236 and/or still another dynamicgasket 237 between hollow shaft 211 and vessel bottom 15 and/or bottomplate 61 respectively.

A gearing and/or motor arrangement 240 is connected to an annular gear241, like for instance a crown gear, of the hollow shaft 211 in theflange connection 231. Thus, actuating rotating force to the hollowshaft is transmitted to the annular gear 241 by suitable forcetransmission means 242, like for instance a gear ring arrangement or thelike.

FIG. 7 and details thereof in FIG. 8 show a further modification of thefeeding and stirring arrangement 200, wherein, for simplicity, the samereference marks have been used for identical or similar elements orelements of identical or similar function. Thus, in the following, themain differences of the feeding and stirring arrangement 200 aredescribed for FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 as compared to FIG. 6.

In the modification of the stirring and feeding arrangement 200 of FIG.7, the hollow shaft 211 has an outlet 222 in the stirring space SS; moreparticular in this embodiment ends in the stirring space SS. Thus thebituminous material is let out into the stirring space between thevessel bottom 15 and the bottom plate 61. Thus, the hollow shaft 211 hasan outlet 222 into the stirring space SS between the bottom plate 61 andthe vessel bottom for forming a cushion stream of bituminous fluid BMinto the space between the bottom plate 61 and the compression plate 62;i.e. in a second operating state into a composite material in thecompression space CS or in a bitumunious material to be recycled in amelting space MS. The space between the bottom plate 61 and thecompression plate 62 is a compression space CS of minor size in a secondoperating state when the compression plate 62 is in a lower position forcompressing solid residues and/or is a melting space MS of larger sizein a first operating state when the compression plate 62 is in a middleposition for melting solid bituminous bodies to be recycled in themelting space. Thus, a composite material pressed in the compressionspace CS can be lifted by means of the cushion stream of the bituminousmaterial BM. Further, in the first operating state, when the compressionplate 62 is in a middle position for forming a melting space of largersize between the compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 formelting bituminous material in the melting space, heat transfer to thefluid bituminous material is increased and time for heating is decreasedby injecting fluid heated bituminous material BM through the furtherthrough-flow orifices 61.5 in the bottom plate 61. The furtherthrough-flow orifices 61.5 are adapted to allow a through-flow of moltenbituminous material BM into the compression space CS.

It should be mentioned explicitly that, as outlined before, thecompression space CS depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is meant to be amelting space MS when enlarged to a larger size between the compressionplate 62 and the bottom plate 61, and thus the jet stream of bituminousmaterial BM in FIG. 6 and, respectively, the cushion of bituminousmaterial BM is led into bituminous material to be recycled when in anon-pressed state for being melted.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 the bottom plate 61 on a bottomside 61.1 has a cup cladding 260, which is shown in more detail in FIG.8. The cup cladding in this embodiment forms a circumferential fencewith a circumferential arrangement of a number of fins 262 for formingthe circumferential fence 261, as shown in view (A) of FIG. 8. The fins262 are adapted to bent from an unbent state (solid line in FIG. 8, view(C)) to a bended state (dashed line in view (C) of FIG. 8). Thus the cupcladding can have the form of a hat and hinders the fluid bituminousmaterial to escape to the side beyond the circumference of the stirringspace. Bituminous material is pumped to a kind of box below the bottomplate in the stirring space SS. A pressure in the stirring space may bein the range of 1.5 bar which necessitates a respective enhancement ofthe vessel bottom 15. Further through flow orifices in the bottom plate,if any, are floated from below and solid bituminous material bodiesthereby can be lifted. A distance of the lower edge of thecircumferential fence to the vessel bottom 15 may be below 10 mm, inparticular below 5 mm to the vessel bottom; this limits hydraulic forcesto the vessel bottom. The distance of elements of the circumferentialfence to each other can be below 5 mm, preferably approximately 2 mm. Anelement preferably has a thickness of below 5 mm, preferablyapproximately 2 mm or less, to allow bending of the element.

When lowering the bottom plate 61 to the vessel bottom 15, a damage ofthe vessel bottom 15 is avoided even at heavy load. Thus, the fins 262shown in view (B) of FIG. 8 are made of a construction and/or material,which allows elastic deformation (elasticity) in a sufficient manner.The elements of the circumferential fence can be screwed or welded tothe bottom plate preferably. Also this provision can allow to damp highload forces to prevent damage of the vessel bottom 15.

Further, as depicted in FIG. 7, a damping ring element 250 is adapted toreceive the bottom plate 61 when in a lower position. The ring element250 is adapted to receive pressing forces when the compression plate 62is also in a lower position for pressing the composite material to thebottom plate 61. The ring element 250 thus forms a stop block to thebottom plate 61 and can further be supplemented with a damping element,like for instance a silicon layer or the like damping material. The ringelement at the vessel bottom 15 is adapted to receive hydraulic forcesand carries a bearing layer of silicon, whose thickness is less than 10mm, preferably, in particular less than 5 mm. Thereby a sealing of thestirring space SS is achieved and thus fluid bituminous material isforced to the further number of through flow orifices in the bottomplate 61 as outlined to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

Preferably the solid composite material and/or the solid bituminousbodies are lifted. While lifted, a rotary movement thereof is achieved.The rotary movement of lifted bituminous bodies is achieved preferablyas the flow pipes 51, 52 can guide bituminous fluid material in anangle, preferably of 15° or the like, to the vessel in a tangentialouter direction. From external heat medium in the form of meltbituminous material is preferably provided at a temperature of between200° C. to 260° C. or the like.

A fluid guide for guiding the bituminous material through the interiorof the vessel 10, the flow pipes, 51, 52 and the hollow shaft 211 can beformed with a ring pipe connection of the flow pipes, 51, 52 and thehollow shaft 211. A pump for pumping the bituminous material preferablyis adapted to provide a throughput of between 100 to 150 m³/h of fluidbituminous material, preferably 120 m³/h of fluid bituminous material.Said pipe is connected on one side by way of the flow pipes to a ratherlarge opening in the vessel and on the other side to the hollow shaft211, which is part of the stirring and feeding arrangement 200 at thecentral axis point at the bottom of the vessel 10.

An opening, in particular central opening, in the vessel bottom 15and/or a bottom plate 61 may have a diameter of between 100 to 150 mm,preferably approximately 120 mm. The hollow shaft preferably has adiameter of of between 80 to 130 mm, preferably approximately 100 mm. Inparticular using the above mentioned dimensions a throughput isachievable to allow a strong turbulence for improving a heat transferbetween the fed in bituminous material and the bituminous material to bemelted and recycled. The time for melting the solid bituminous bodiesthereby is decreased. A stream of fluid bituminous material preferablyhas a rather high velocity; in particular a stream of fed in meltingmedium of hot bituminous material is preferred. To make the solidbitumen melting in the hot liquid medium, enough speed of the meltingmedium in the vessel is preferably larger than 0 m/s, preferable between1-100 m/s, more preferable between 0.10-10 m/s, more specific between1-7 m/s. A particular increase of speed is achieved with propellers orthe like accelerator means in a ring pipe to the hollow shaft, inparticular in the flow pipes 51, 52. In the flow pipes 51, 52, flowsensors can be provided to allow a flow measurement. Measurement valuescan be used to make conclusions about the state of the flow pipes; e. g.clogging thereof can be estimated.

Because of the partly floating solid bitumen in the vessel, propellerscannot be placed inside the recycling vessel 10. However, propellers canbe placed outside the vessel into two or more external jet streamcirculation guides, namely in this embodiment into the flow pipes 51,51. Propellers are preferred to create the advantageous high velocity ofthe melting medium in the vessel. A positive displacement pump cannotcreate the required capacity and thus speed of the liquid meltingmedium, such as hot bitumen or hot bitumen compound. Centrifugal pumpscan be used but with some deficiencies for pumping hot liquid bitumen.Preferably a positive discharge pumps, is used. e.g. a positivedischarge pump can be formed as a gear pump or the like.

Fed in bituminous material is preferably used as a melting medium andpreferably is formed as a hot bitumen, hot bitumen compound, hot oil, acold dissolver of bitumen type or the like (e.g. Diesel). In operationthe hot bitumen has a temperature of between 80° C.-200° C., preferableof between 120° C.-160° C., more preferable of between 160° C.-260° C.

The bottom plate 61 and/or the vessel bottom 15 preferably has athickness of at least 3 mm, preferable a thickness of between 3-500 mm,more preferable 100 mm, in particular a thickness of between 50 to 100mm. The lower border of thickness is achieved when the bottom plate 61and/or the vessel bottom 15 are that much thin, that fluid bituminousmaterial solidifies rather quick, due to loss of heat. Then solidbituminous material can be scraped from the bottom plate 61 and/or thevessel bottom 15 only with increased effort.

The vessel wall and/or the pipes in this embodiment preferably areenclosed in a pillow plated jacket or the like mantle as mentionedhereinbefore. Some, preferably all, pillow plated jacket or mantles canbe operated with an internal pressure of 5-20 bar. Thereby an improvedstream of thermal oil in the pillow plates is achieved and thus animproved thermal heat transfer. Each pillow plate system may have itsown thermal medium pump, i.e. a secondary pump is provided for thethermal medium in addition to a primary pump for fluid bituminousmaterial (in the flow pipes 51, 52 e.g.). Thereby a setting is possibleto provide an equal heating of the vessel; also respective valves and adistributor can be used to adapt the stream of thermal medium in thepillow plates. The openings of the flow pipes 51, 52, in particular havea diffuser connection to the vessel or a manifold or the like branchingof outlet pipes. Preferably the diffuser has an opening diameter ofbetween 500 mm to 600 mm.

Through flow orifices in the compression plate and/or the bottom plateare adapted for draining the residue composite material upwards. Theycan have a widening, in particular a conical widening, in the flowdirection of the bitumen streaming out of the residue, to preventblocking up by the carriers or parts of the carriers. The diameter ofthe through flow orifices can vary from 1 mm-60 mm. The number ofthrough flow orifices may range from 1 to 500.

Preferably backwards closing valves are provide in the compression plateand/or the bottom plate. The openings in the compression plate drain theresidue upwards. Therefore backwards closing valves are preferred in thecompression plate: By compressing the remaining, liquid bitumen isflowing upwards out of the remaining through the conical holes into thevessel. Preferably it can be prevented that the retained bitumen flowsback onto/into the residue composite. This can be achieved by openingswith a check valve or the like backwards closing valve. E.g. in theconical hole a conical stop can be provide, lifted by the flow of theliquid bitumen and closing if there is no flow. The power/pressure toopen the holes can depend on the shape and weight of the stops.

A draining system can be provided to the bottom plate. A draining systemcan be realized by a number of parallel strips on the bottom plate witha certain space between each other. The strips are parallel to thepusher movement. The strips have a width of 5-1000 mm, preferable awidth of 10-50 mm. The height of the strips is 1-100 mm, preferably 2-20mm. Between the strips on the bottom plate canals can be created inwhich the squeezed liquid bitumen is flowing to the outside of thebottom plate and dropping into the space between the bottom plate andthe bottom of the vessel. This can be pumped out of the vessel withoutstreaming back into the remaining. Alternatively a draining system canbe realized by a perforated plate system. The perforated plate issupported by small square bars leaving room between the perforated plateand the bottom plate, so that the regained/squeezed out bitumen of acake of compressed composite material can flow into the space underneaththe bottom plate and pumped out of the vessel.

By oscillating movements of the compression plate in the fluid bitumenin the vessel, blocked up holes can be opened. The carrier packageunderneath the compression plate can act as a filter, as described withthe first particular preferred developed variant hereinbefore, whenthere is a certain downwards speed of the plate. The minimum speed isv>0 m/s. When the downwards speed is too high the carrier packageprevents penetration of the bitumen compound into the cook and requirestoo much power to lower the compression plate. Bituminous roofing isalways a bitumen compound. A maximum speed required is preferably 1 m/s.A realistic speed is such that particles must have a certain maximumspeed to find there way through the cake of pressed composite materialin all directions. An optimal speed can be just above 0 m/s, e.g. 0.001m/s.

A heated disposal plate or tray 40 is preferred. This plate is connectedto the side of the vessel opposite the pusher. In this way the residueis pushed from the bottom plate over the disposal plate into a disposalcontainer. The disposal plate can move from the horizontal positionwhile the pusher is moving into the vertical position dropping theresidue into the disposal container standing under the vertical disposalplate. The disposal plate is preferably heated to prevent sticking ofthe bituminous residue is small and can have at least the dimensions ofthe bottom plate.

Also the system can be monitored, controlled and/or regulated using suchmeasurement values. Supervision of the apparatus 100 can be achieved bya camera installation of telemetry applications. In particularbituminous vapors or the like can be supervised. The apparatus can beenclosed in a housing to provide a containment or the like. An automatedfire extinguishing installation can be provided, in particular in thecontainment.

In particular the invention comprises one or more of the apparatus andmethod embodiments as listed below.

1. Apparatus for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting, inparticular for recycling bituminous composite material bodies comprisinga composite material and a bituminous material, in particular roofingmaterials, in particular in the form of bituminous covering layers ofroofing sheets, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   a vessel having a vessel wall surrounding an interior space of        the vessel extending along a vertical axis of the vessel for        receiving the bituminous material bodies,    -   a bottom plate and a compression plate extending transverse to        the vertical axis wherein at least the compression plate has a        number of through flow orifices adapted to allow a through flow        of molten bituminous material, wherein the plates are movable        along the vertical axis such that    -   in a first operating state the compression plate is in a middle        position for forming a melting space of larger size between the        compression plate and the bottom plate for melting bituminous        material in the melting space wherein the bottom plate is in a        melting position,    -   in a second operating state the compression plate is in a lower        position for forming a compression space of minor size between        the compression plate and the bottom plate for compressing solid        residues and/or solid composite material in the compression        space, and wherein

molten bituminous material is retained in a storing space above thecompression plate for storing and/or discharging bituminous material,wherein the bottom plate is in a compression position, wherein

-   -   the compression plate is movable from the middle position to the        lower position.

2. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thecompression plate is movable from the middle position to the lowerposition with a downward velocity below an upper limit, wherein theupper limit of the downward velocity and the through flow orifices arein a form adapted to—retain the composite material and/or other solidresidues in a state of operation below the compression plate when movingthe compression plate from the middle position to the lower positionwith the downward velocity such that a passive filter means below thecompression plate is provided by means of the composite material and/orother solid residues.

3. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein theupper limit of the downward velocity is between 10 cm/min and 15 cm/min.

4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thethrough flow orifices are in the form of slits having a lower slit widthand an upper slit length.

5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thethrough flow orifices lower cross-sectional dimension, in particularlower width, in particular slit width, is below 10 mm, in particularbelow 4 mm, in particular below 2 mm.

6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein theratio of a sum of open cross-sections of orifices to the total closedarea of the compression plate is below 10%, in particular below 5%, inparticular below 2%, in particular below 1%.

Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein theorifices have plan-parallel boundary surfaces.

8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein ahydraulic and/or pneumatic drive is adapted to move at least thecompression plate along the vertical axis from the middle position tothe lower position with the downward velocity.

9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein adrive is adapted to move at least the compression plate along thevertical axis by exerting pressure at least to a first number of driverods adapted to move the compression plate between said positions.

10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein asecond number of guidance rods are adapted to establish a guidance linkat least of the bottom plate to the compression plate wherein

-   -   a lower distance between the bottom plate and the compression        plate is variable dependent on the position of the compression        plate, and    -   an upper distance between the bottom plate and the compression        plate is limited by a stop collar.

11. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein adrive rod extends to a first line of openings in said plates and aguidance rod extends to a second line of openings in said plates.

12. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein afirst line of openings in said plates is located on an outercircumference line on a respective plate and a second line of openingsin said plates is located on an inner circumference line on a respectiveplate.

13. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thenumber of drive rods and the number of guidance rods and respectiveopenings are the same, in particular the number amounts to three, inparticular each rod is arranged along a first and second innercircumferential cylindrical shape.

14. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments whereinfurther comprising a cover plate wherein the compression plate isarranged between the bottom plate and the cover plate.

15. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein whenthe bottom plate is in a melting position, the bottom plate in alowermost region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis and thevessel is closed by the cover plate and the compression plate is in anupper region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis.

16. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein whenthe bottom plate is in a compression position, the bottom plate in alowermost region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis and thevessel is closed by the cover plate and the compression plate is in alower region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis.

17. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein whenthe bottom plate is in a discharge position, the vessel is open and thecompression plate and the cover plate are in a region above the vesselwall along the vertical axis, in particular the bottom plate in theregion above the vessel wall along the vertical axis.

18. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein theinterior space is adapted for receiving the bituminous materials,wherein the vessel wall has an inner wall defining the interior spaceand adapted for contacting the bituminous materials, and an outer walldefining an annular space between the inner wall and the outer wall,which annular space is adapted to receive a heating liquid for heatingthe interior space, in particular the bituminous materials.

19. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein theinner wall and the out wall are connected at a plurality of hubs, inparticular each hub is formed as pillow plated hub, in particular of aweld hub.

20. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein theinterior space is adapted to be open to the surrounding, in particularan overflow channel is connectable in a flow connection to the interiorspace.

21. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein theinterior space is adapted to be pressurized with a pressure belowatmospheric pressure, in particular with a vacuum pressure.

22. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments whereinfurther comprising a microwave heating arrangement adapted to heat theinterior space, in particular the bituminous materials.

23. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments whereinfurther comprising:

a first and second flow pipe connected to the vessel in a flowconnection to the interior space of the vessel wherein a propeller isadapted to circulate molten bituminous materials in the first and secondflow pipe and the interior space of the vessel.

24. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein in athird operating state the compression plate is in an upper position forforming a discharge space between the compression plate and the bottomplate for discharging bituminous materials from the discharge space,wherein the bottom plate is in a discharge position.

25. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thedischarge position of the bottom plate is adapted such that the bottomplate surface aligns with a slider element of a slide and/or a dischargereceipt tray, wherein the slide is adapted to move the slider elementalong the surface of the bottom plate to move the compressed solidresidues and/or composite material to the discharge receipt tray.

26. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thedischarge receipt tray is pivotable from a horizontal surface positionto a vertical surface position to release the compressed solid residuesand/or composite material.

27. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein ahead frame is adapted for supporting the vessel and/or a slide and/or atray wherein a vessel part of the a head frame comprises a number ofcolumns extending a along an outer circumferential cylindrical shape, inparticular wherein a column is basically aligned in a radial extendingvertical tier with a guidance rod and a drive rod.

28. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein astirring unit is provided, wherein the stirring unit has a shaft and anelongated stirring member rotatable arranged between the bottom plateand a vessel bottom.

29. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein

-   -   a shaft of a stirring unit is adapted to rotate an elongated        stirring member in a stirring space between the bottom plate and        the vessel bottom and/or wherein    -   a shaft of a stirring unit is hollow with an upper outlet        adapted to feed through a bituminous fluid, in particular a        bituminous melting fluid.

30. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein theshaft has an opening out into the space between the bottom plate and thecompression plate, in particular for forming a jet stream of bituminousfluid into a bituminous material to be recycled in the melting spaceand/or into a composite material in the compression space between thebottom plate and the compression plate.

31. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein theshaft has an opening out into the stirring space between the bottomplate and the vessel bottom, in particular for forming a cushion streamof bituminous fluid into a bituminous material to be recycled in themelting space and/or into a composite material in the compression spacebetween the bottom plate and the compression plate, in particularwherein the bottom plate has a number of further through flow orificesadapted to allow a through flow of molten bituminous material.

32. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thebottom plate on a bottom side has a cup cladding, in particular formedby a circumferential arrangement, in particular of a number of fins.

33. Method for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting, inparticular for recycling solid bituminous composite material bodiescomprising a composite material and a bituminous material, in particularroofing materials, in particular in the form of bituminous coveringlayers of roofing sheets, in particular using an apparatus as claimed inone or more of the preceding embodiments, comprising the steps of:

-   -   receiving the bituminous materials in an interior space of a        vessel having a vessel wall surrounding the interior space of        the vessel extending along a vertical axis of the vessel,    -   containing the bituminous materials above a bottom plate and        allowing a through flow of molten bituminous materials through a        compression plate extending transverse to the vertical axis        wherein at least the compression plate has a number of through        flow orifices adapted to allow the through flow of molten        bituminous materials,    -   moving the plates along the vertical axis such that

in a first operating state the compression plate is in a middle positionfor forming a melting space of larger size between the compression plateand the bottom plate for melting bituminous materials in the meltingspace wherein the bottom plate is in a melting position,

-   -   in a second operating state the compression plate is in a lower        position for forming a compression space of minor size between        the compression plate and the bottom plate for compressing solid        residues and/or composite material in the compression space, and        wherein melted bituminous material is retained in a storing        space above the compression plate for storing and/or discharging        melted bituminous material, wherein the bottom plate is in a        compression position, wherein    -   the compression plate is moved from the middle position to the        lower position.

34. Method for recycling bituminous material wherein the compressionplate is moved from the middle position to the lower position with adownward velocity below an upper limit, wherein the upper limit of thedownward velocity and the through flow orifices are in a form adapted toretain composite material in a state of operation below the compressionplate when moving the compression plate from the middle position to thelower position with the downward velocity such that a passive filtermeans below the compression plate is provided by means of the compositematerial and/or other solid residues.

35. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein theupper limit of the downward velocity is between 10 cm/min and 15 cm/min.

36. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein movingthe plates along the vertical axis is further such that in a thirdoperating state the compression plate is in an upper position forforming a discharge space between the compression plate and the bottomplate for discharging bituminous materials from the discharge space,wherein the bottom plate is in a discharge position.

37. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein whenmoving the compression plate from the middle position to the lowerposition with the downward velocity composite material and/or solidresidues are retained below the compression plate.

38. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments whereincomposite material and/or solid residues are retained such that thebituminous material of a through flow of the bituminous material throughthe orifices is filtered, in particular to provide clean primarybituminous material.

39. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments whereinnon-melting additives, in particular polyester- and/or glass-fleece-and/or -fabric or mineral filler materials as additives, are added tothe bituminous materials to improve filtering of the bituminousmaterial.

40. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments whereinnon-melting additives are added to the bituminous materials in aconcentration corresponding to an amount of up to 50 m2 to 100 m2 pervolume of bituminous materials of up to 6 m3 to 11 m3.

41. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thebituminous materials comprise a polymer-modified bitumen compound, inparticular wherein the polymer-modified bitumen compound forms a majorpart of the recycled bituminous material.

42. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thebituminous material bodies comprise filler material residues, inparticular inlaids (such as polyester- or glass-fleece or -fabric ormineral filler materials) or unwanted residues (such as slate chippings)wherein the filler materials form a minor part of the bituminousmaterial bodies.

43. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thebituminous material is heated by a heating liquid, in particular aheating liquid circulated in the annular space and/or heated by amicrowave energy.

44. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thecompression plate is hydraulically and/or pneumatically moved.

45. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein thecompression plate and/or the bottom plate are guided and/or are drivenby a number of rods.

46. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments whereincompressed solid composite material and/or solid residues are shiftedfrom the bottom plate to a pivotable discharge receipt tray at adischarge position of the bottom plate.

1. Apparatus for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting theapparatus comprising: a vessel having a vessel bottom (15) and a vesselwall surrounding an interior space of the vessel extending along avertical axis of the vessel for receiving the bituminous materialbodies, a bottom plate (61) and a compression plate (62) extendingtransverse to the vertical axis wherein at least the compression platehas a number of through flow orifices adapted to allow a through flow ofmolten bituminous material wherein the plates are movable along thevertical axis such that in a first operating state the compression plateis in a middle position for forming a melting space of larger sizebetween the compression plate and the bottom plate for meltingbituminous material in the melting space wherein the bottom plate is ina melting position, in a second operating state the compression plate isin a lower position for forming a compression space of minor sizebetween the compression plate and the bottom plate for compressing solidresidues and/or solid composite material in the compression space, andwherein molten bituminous material is retained in a storing space abovethe compression plate for storing and/or discharging bituminousmaterial, wherein the bottom plate is in a compression position, whereinthe compression plate is movable from the middle position to the lowerposition, wherein a hydraulic and/or pneumatic drive is adapted to moveat least the compression plate along the vertical axis from the middleposition to the lower position with the downward velocity and whereinthe drive is adapted to move at least the compression plate along thevertical axis by exerting pressure at least to a first number of driverods adapted to move the compression plate between said positions, andwherein a second number of guidance rods are adapted to establish aguidance link at least of the bottom plate to the compression plate andwherein at least one of the drive rod extends to a first line ofopenings in said plates and at least one of the guidance rods extends toa second line of openings in said plates, wherein the first line ofopenings in said plates is located on an outer circumference line on arespective plate and the second line of openings in said plates islocated on an inner circumference line on a respective plate. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the compression plate is movablefrom the middle position to the lower position with a downward velocitybelow an upper limit, wherein the upper limit of the downward velocityand the through flow orifices are in a form adapted to retain thecomposite material and/or other solid residues below the compressionplate in a state of operation when moving the compression plate from themiddle position to the lower position with the downward velocity, suchthat a passive filter means below the compression plate is provided bymeans of the composite material and/or other solid residues. 3.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper limit of the downwardvelocity is between 10 cm/min and 15 cm/min and the downward velocity isabove 0 cm/min.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the throughflow orifices are in the form of slits having a lower slit width and anupper slit length, and/or—the orifices have parallel boundary surfaces.5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the through flow orificeslower cross-sectional dimension or lower width or slit width is below 10mm.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of a sum ofopen cross-sections of orifices to the total closed area of thecompression plate is below 10%.
 7. (canceled)
 8. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein a lower distance between the bottom plate and thecompression plate is variable dependent on the position of thecompression plate, and an upper distance between the bottom plate andthe compression plate is limited by a stop collar of the drive and/orguidance rods.
 9. (canceled)
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe number of drive rods and the number of guidance rods and respectiveopenings are the same wherein each rod is arranged along a first andsecond inner circumferential cylindrical shape.
 11. Apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising a cover plate wherein the compressionplate is arranged between the bottom plate and the cover plate, andwherein when the bottom plate is in the melting position, the bottomplate in a lowermost region of the vessel wall along the vertical axisand the vessel is closed by the cover plate and the compression plate isin an upper region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis, and/orwhen the bottom plate is in the compression position, the bottom platein a lowermost region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis and thevessel is closed by the cover plate and the compression plate is in alower region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis, and/or when thebottom plate is in a discharge position, the vessel is open and thecompression plate and the cover plate are in a region above the vesselwall along the vertical axis, the bottom plate is in the region abovethe vessel wall along the vertical axis.
 12. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the interior space is adapted for receiving thebituminous materials, wherein the vessel wall has an inner wall definingthe interior space and adapted for contacting the bituminous materials,and an outer wall defining an annular space between the inner wall andthe outer wall, which annular space is adapted to receive a heatingliquid for heating the interior space and/or the vessel comprising amicrowave heating arrangement adapted to heat the interior space. 13.Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the inner wall and the outerwall are connected at a plurality of hubs wherein each hub is formed asa pillow plated hub or a weld hub.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a sealable venting means or a pressurizable valve,wherein the interior space is adapted to be open to the surrounding, andan overflow channel is connectable in a flow connection to the interiorspace, and/or the interior space is adapted to be pressurized with apressure below atmospheric pressure.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a first and second flow pipe (51, 52) connected tothe vessel in a flow connection to the interior space of the vesselwherein a propeller is adapted to circulate molten bituminous materialsin the first and second flow pipe and the interior space of the vessel.16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a third operating statethe compression plate is in an upper position for forming a dischargespace between the compression plate and the bottom plate for dischargingbituminous materials from the discharge space, wherein the bottom plateis in a discharge position, and the discharge position of the bottomplate is adapted such that the bottom plate surface aligns with a sliderelement of a slide and/or a discharge receipt tray, wherein the slide isadapted to move the slider element along the surface of the bottom plateto move the compressed solid residues and/or composite material to thedischarge receipt tray.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein thedischarge receipt tray is heatable and/or pivotable from a horizontalsurface position to a vertical surface position to release thecompressed solid residues and/or composite material.
 18. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein a head frame is adapted for supporting thevessel and/or a slide and/or a tray wherein a vessel part of the a headframe comprises a number of columns extending a along an outercircumferential cylindrical shape, wherein a column is aligned in aradial extending vertical tier with a guidance rod and a drive rod. 19.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stirring unit is provided,wherein the stirring unit has a shaft and an elongated stirring memberrotatable arranged between the bottom plate and a vessel bottom. 20.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft of the stirring unitis adapted to rotate the elongated stirring member in a stirring spacebetween the bottom plate and the vessel bottom, wherein the shaft of thestirring unit is hollow with an upper outlet adapted to feed through themolten bituminous fluid.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 19, whereinthe shaft has an opening out into the space between the bottom plate andthe compression plate for forming a jet stream of bituminous fluid intoa bituminous material to be recycled in the melting space and/or into acomposite material in the compression space between the bottom plate andthe compression plate.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein theshaft has an opening out into the stirring space between the bottomplate and the vessel bottom for forming a cushion stream of bituminousfluid into a bituminous material to be recycled in the melting spaceand/or into a composite material in the compression space between thebottom plate and the compression plate, wherein the bottom plate has anumber of further through flow orifices adapted to allow a through flowof molten bituminous material.
 23. Apparatus according to claim 19,wherein the bottom plate on a bottom side has a cup cladding formed by acircumferential arrangement of a number of fins.
 24. Method forrecycling bituminous material bodies by melting using an apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: receiving the bituminousmaterials in the interior space of the vessel, containing the bituminousmaterials above a bottom plate and allowing the through flow of moltenbituminous materials through the compression plate, moving the platesalong the vertical axis such that in a first operating state thecompression plate is in a middle position for forming a melting space oflarger size between the compression plate and the bottom plate formelting bituminous materials in the melting space wherein the bottomplate is in a melting position, in a second operating state thecompression plate is in a lower position for forming a compression spaceof minor size between the compression plate and the bottom plate forcompressing solid residues and/or composite material in the compressionspace, and wherein melted bituminous material is retained in a storingspace above the compression plate for storing and/or discharging meltedbituminous material, wherein the bottom plate is in a compressionposition, wherein the compression plate is moved from the middleposition to the lower position, wherein a hydraulic and/or pneumaticdrive is adapted to move at least the compression plate along thevertical axis from the middle position to the lower position with thedownward velocity and wherein the drive is adapted to move at least thecompression plate along the vertical axis by exerting pressure at leastto a first number of drive rods adapted to move the compression platebetween said positions, and wherein a second number of guidance rods areadapted to establish a guidance link at least of the bottom plate to thecompression plate and wherein the drive rod extends to a first line ofopenings in said plates and the guidance rod extends to a second line ofopenings in said plates, wherein a first line of openings in said platesis located on an outer circumference line on a respective plate and asecond line of openings in said plates is located on an innercircumference line on a respective plate.
 25. Method according to claim24, wherein the compression plate is moved from the middle position tothe lower position with a downward velocity below an upper limit,wherein the upper limit of the downward velocity and the through floworifices are in a form adapted to retain composite material in a stateof operation below the compression plate when moving the compressionplate from the middle position to the lower position with the downwardvelocity such that a passive filter means below the compression plate isprovided by means of the composite material and/or other solid residues.